Description: Begun in 1989, the Youth Education Program for the Prevention of Destructive Decisions provides school and community based prevention and education services to Lehigh Valley youth. Services are provided at the elementary, middle and high schools during the school year, as well as community sites throughout the year. The program operates with the belief that substance abuse, violence and other self-destructive behaviors can be prevented through alcohol, tobacco and other drug (ATOD) education coupled with life skills training. This program also includes the Public Information Center on Drug Prevention, a Pennsylvania state Regional Alcohol and other Drug Awareness Resources (RADAR) site, where up-to-date information, at no cost, is available on ATOD topics (DVD's, videos, CD'S and printed materials). Other service offerings include our SADD Advisory Board, where we work with middle and high school SADD students on monthly bases who are interested in leadership roles; TFNE where we work with grades K-12 on current tobacco education and iniatives; and also our diversion education ARD classes, Choices and Decisions, for underage drinking and anger management for first time offenders and Marijuana Awareness Class (MAC) an educational program for young offenders.

PROGRAMS - A full listing of all elementary, middle school, high school, and community programs offered by the Youth Education Program for the Prevention of Destructive Decisions.

Family Intervention Program

Referral Sources: Self-referrals, county child welfare agencies, schools, county juvenile probation departments, hospitals and other social service agencies

Eligibility: Substance use issue in the family, child is birth to 18 years of age

Length of service: Six to nine months

Description: The Family Intervention Program (FIP) is a multiple service program directed at families with a child who is at risk of maltreatment and a family member is using alcohol or drugs. The program seeks to preserve the family unit and to avoid the damage caused by the number of stressors and risks presenting when someone in the family is abusing substances. Intensive counseling and social habilitation services include various components, such as, parenting education and substance abuse intervention. The program is also designed to provide services to meet emergency child needs for food, shelter and medical care. Additional case management issues are coordinated, if necessary. Services are provided in homes; however, office based, school based and other community settings are also utilized.

Project Child

Referral Sources: Parent Self Referrals, County Children and Youth Agencies, Judges and Court Masters, Social Service Agencies, Teachers

Eligibility: N/A

Exclusions: N/A

Length of Service: N/A

Description: Project Child is a broad based community coalition whose mission is the prevention of child abuse. This mission is accomplished through the promotion of positive parenting. The main components of service include ongoing parenting classes and support groups, a weekly parenting informational article in The Morning Call as well as several professional educational venues. Project Child’s newest service component is Learning to Care, a highly interactive program to teach nurturing, empathy and child development to children within their school classrooms. Project Child is known as a reliable source of information and referral on the topics of child abuse prevention and they distribute a variety of publications including Child Abuse Primers, Tips at Report Card Time as well as a variety of handouts to support positive parenting.

Valley Youth House – Functional Family Therapy

Referral Sources: Self-referrals, county child welfare agencies, schools, county juvenile probation departments, hospitals and other social service agencies

Eligibility: Adolescent is exhibiting or is at-risk for Conduct Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Disruptive Behavior Disorder, or is presenting with symptoms of depression; delinquency, violence or alcohol and other drug abuse disorders; adolescent is 10 to 18 years of age

Length of service: Approximately twelve sessions over a three to four month period

Description: Functional Family Therapy (FFT) is an outcome-driven, nationally and internationally utilized, family therapy approach to working with youth who have behavioral needs and display disruptive conduct. FFT is provided in the home, the community or the office. FFT utilizes specific techniques to engage and motivate youth and families over a series of three phases.

Student Assistance Program

Referral Sources: Schools primarily, though parents may call and request the service and students may self-refer themselves

Eligibility: Northampton County public school students ranging from kindergarten through 12th grade who could benefit from a preventative mental health service

Length of Service: Short-term – 6-9 counseling sessions

Description: The Student Assistance Program is a school-based service which operates during the academic school year. The program places one masters-level mental health therapist within each school, one day a week, to provide time-limited mental health services to students who are experiencing behavioral, family or school difficulties that pose a barrier to success and learning in school. Students generally receive one hour of service per week, with the intensity of services varying based on each child’s need. Services are designed to be short-term and flexible. For students who require more extensive help, linkages with other Valley Youth House programs or other community resources occurs.